Le Prieure

Staff was very nice. The grounds are charming. But the experience comes to an abrupt halt once we entered our room. Old, poorly decorated, noisy air conditioner, musty. It felt as though not a single care was given by the owners. No attention to detail. No welcoming touches. Flea market furniture. 70's style brown bathroom. Walls painted in shades of depression. Lacking in any feeling of luxury or hospitality. I left feeling completely ripped off. My spare basement bedroom is more inviting than the room we had. Perhaps it, too, can get a Relais and Chateau designation.

This was our second stay at this property and we would absolutely go back. There is a beautiful garden that makes up their entrance, which leads you to a wonderful shaded courtyard. There is a Michelin starred restaurant attached to the hotel, which also does a great breakfast (I would recommend ordering an omelette, which was always cooked to perfection). The pool is nice and deep, and there is pool side drink service. Both rooms we stayed in were great. My only critique would be that the bathrooms need an update, but they are otherwise great accommodations. We stayed with our one year old son and he had a blast with the property and the town. They were very nice and had a crib with bedding made up for him. We showed up a bit early for check in and they kindly got us in early so that our son could take a nap.

As we board the train, I am already missing Le Pierre Baumanière. We had the most amazing stay in room 26 in this hotel. The service is exceptional and the grounds make you feel as if time has stopped completely. It is so peaceful without the need of music as the whispers of cicadas serve as a constant rhythm for this special place. The town of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon where the hotel is located is very lovely and while only 10 minutes by bus to the city of Avignon we found ourselves opting to stay in the town for most of our time. We also are very glad we selected this hotel versus the other two 5 star located in city center of Avignon (Hotel La Mirande and Hotel d’Europe) because this felt more like a Michelin-starred sponsored retreat versus any other traditional 5 star located in a city. If you are toying between the three hotels, choose this one. The pool is massive and so refreshing and was one of the highlights. The gardens (there is a small but noticeable patch of beautiful lavender) were also magnificent and each evening the staff picks food from the garden for the tasting menu for that evening. The esteemed chef’s energy permeates through the property with the entire stay evoking feelings of a dream. Although we didn’t attend, the famous vineyard, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, is located only 30 minutes away by car. We also used the trails for running in the morning, which are located at the foot of the town. On the trails, you will walk by horses, locals, and sunflower fields. We were able to rely on public transportation the full week since we didn’t have a car, and the bus system was pretty easy to understand from the train station to town to the city of Avignon. Uber is also readily available in the region , which is a plus should you require it. The last time we stayed in Provence, we stayed at Crillon Le Brave, owned by the same hotel group that owns the famous Hotel De Crillon in Paris. This was also a great stay, but we preferred le pierre baumanière. The hotel is not only more ideally situated near Avignon, but also had a less pretentious feel with matched levels of sophistication at less of a cost. 10/10.

Perfect Provence! Everything was absolutely excellent! The staff was charming, the grounds beautiful and the food- over the top amazing!

The chef is amazing! We had dinner here and it is one of the best we have had since many years. Innovative and amazing flavours without making you feel too stuffed at the end of a meal. Loved it. Also very nice staff in the hotel and restaurant. If we are in the area again we will come back just to have dinner here again.